salamelecco

Italian

Alternative forms

• salamelecche (obsolete)

Etymology

From Arabic اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ (as-salāmu ʕalaykum, “peace upon you”, a common greeting). See also Portuguese salamaleque and French salamalec.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛkko

• IPA^(key): /sa.la.meˈlɛk.ko/
• Hyphenation: sa‧la‧me‧lèc‧co

Noun

salamelecco m (plural salamelecchi)

1. (informal, usually derogatory, especially in the plural) bowing and scraping, flattery

   Lo accolse con molti salamelecchi.

   He received him with much bowing and scraping.

   Synonyms: cerimonia, complimento, convenevole, leziosaggine, moina, smanceria